We start our tour of 3 places at City Hall and it seems like the exhibits were going to be creepy like the ones in 2006. From the first exhibit we saw, it would have proven our thoughts right. Starting out in a room that was emanating a low hum, close to someone playing a digeridoo in the distance, once you look inside, it's dark except for the scenes of fire projected on the walls. Everything in the room is highlighted by the little bit of light and it's supposed to make u think you were in an inferno. Once you take a picture with flash, you realise that everything in the room has been 'burnt' and 'charred'.
Chao Tar!
However, that seems to be one of only a handful of exhibits this year that gave off a creepy vibe. Other than that, most were vibrant, funny and interesting, with some that were also thought-provoking, some slightly political and some were just amazing considering the effort needed to get then done. Following are the ones that really caught our eyes.
Dead Or Alive?
The following one was rather fun to keep walking back and forth, watching the art move with you. Personally liked the one with the couple as they looked like they were just having fun dancing in the street. What I don't get is the title.
Next one was part of a video exhibit. The different block prints were actually made into a video with some music, creating an interesting music video. Even though what the music was about, I couldn't make out through the pictures, nor the song as it was in Bahasa Indonesia (I think).
I wonder if I can ever get my fish tank to look like the one below? Makes you wonder how many mountaintops we could say we visited by creating them in tanks.
This next exhibit caught our eyes because it was items that we were so used to, with their names change to make a statement about the fighting in the world. I'm not sure if there was an order but I jumbled up my photos. I do like the one with the dishwashing liquids that read "Shoot First" and "Make Friends Later", noting how trigger-happy some people have been in Iraq.
The next room was a lovely break from the heat at City Hall. It was left as a dark room except for that single light hanging in the middle, and the temperature in the room was turned down, probably trying to mimic the short film that was being played - something about a snow in a house.
The following piece was interesting in that the book never really stayed at the top, nor hit the bottom of the tank. I was hoping to get a view of what was actually written in the book, but it never opened up enough, probably part of it's bobbing technique?
Heading towards another exhibit, we spotted this strange bubbly, tumour-like thing over one of the walls just as we were reminiscing about the previous Biennale and the thought that the other building looked like a spaceship. Someone obviously thought the same thing and decided to put the free backdrop to good use.
The following is one of my favourites for this year's Biennale. I just liked that the artist made it look like a video game, but the funny thing was all the graphics and bonus points that he added to actually make it feel like you were watching a game being played. Brought back memories of the games I used to play with my sis.
Heading down to the 2nd floor, you're greeted by this piece of work, which looked like a giant piece of gunny-sack hanging stuck to the wall, in which one corner was torn. Upon closer inspection, you realise that it was just paint 'woven' to create the effect.
Ripped Fabric Between 2 Floors?
Ever thought about opening your cupboard and looking in to another country? Well now you can with this collection!
And if the cupboard doesn't do much for you, you can always knit and crochet your way to a whole new world, birds and scooter included!
Could My Mom Be Part Of This?
And maybe you would like to have more private pools on your private island?
Time for some things that are a little more on the dark side. It started out with pictures that seem to focus on the person that is lying down. Forgot what the whole thing was about, but it apparently started with a close up picture of a girl, and then the girl in the doorway, and then of the one on the stretcher. Something about death maybe?
In the next room was a collection of photographs about supernatural stuff and the things people do in respect to it. The first one that caught my attention was of the boy playing an imaginary piano. I'm not sure how the photo was taken, but the boy's posture sure looked like he was concentrating really hard on playing a song.
Another one was this old man who look like he was concentrating so hard that his head was burning up. Whichever way the photo was taken or created, the picture sure made you wonder what was happening.
Boy Playing The Piano (Or Not).
Heated Thoughts?
Something Sacrificed.
No idea what the next one was all about, but it was the 'dried fish' that caught my eye. Next to it was some rotating thing, featuring some pictures, that starts every few minutes. On the table was the artist's scribbling and probably the measurements of how the whole thing was put together. How they fit together? You try to figure it out.
Is That Dried Fish?
No Just Warped Pictures Of A Boat Out At Sea.
Another installation that we liked. I didn't get the video, which was really entertaining, that featured the whole process of the photoshoot. It starts with a family portrait that was taken many years back, followed by one taken recently with everyone in a similar pose. The next few photographs, as you will see, is of the family rotating their positions, and clothes, in the photograph. As you can imagine, the video of the photoshoot was a laugh to watch.
Before & 20+ Years Later.
Family Shuffle.
Another piece I really liked. This one was a whole floor covered with the Google Earth image of Singapore. People were encouraged to get involved by sticking messages to the floor - to write something about their home or something about a certain part of Singapore in general. We had a good time reading some things people wrote, and then we got down to penning our own little messages, as well as add some markers that were prominent in our area that someone called a 'Kampung'.
Check Out My Ripped Jeans.
And the last exhibit on this level was some science fiction movie or something of the sort. Giant bugs covered the floor, while tall jars held strange heads that look like Easter Island statues at the bar, and more weird stuff on the shelves. Hmmm... they had a bar at City Hall?
Telling Us Something?
The lovely art by kids all over Singapore. Some pieces do draw you in and make u realise how young some talented people are, and then there are some that seem to tell you that the artist might to be a little bit tormented or stressed. Above all, the art by the children are always fun to look at, and the colours just make you happy! Hahaha
Tormented child? Food Lover?
When I Grow Up... I Wanna Be A Blogger?
Potted & Ready To Grow
Then there are some things we just don't understand, or don't find that interesting that we, or at least I, skipped through.
